Review Appreciated For Internet Security Site

chrisinbc · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2009, 06:02 PM

Hello,

I'd really appreciate any suggestions, comments, or ideas for my Internet security website. The last month or so, I've been working on making some visual changes to my website, by adding pictures and trying to make some of the articles more readable. Still very much a work in progress - planning on adding several more pages. The website is in my signature. Thanks in advance for any feedback. I really appreciate it.

Chris H.

MesmerLab · #2 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 02:14 PM

Hi Chris,

Here's my notes after a quick scan of your site:
[LIST][*]The header image needs work. The reflection thing isn't done quite right. I'd say to get rid of the reflection for now, don't skew the website title text, and make the title about half the current size. I like the laptop image.[*]I think the google ads under your menu might look better centered. Find #main-body .showcase-module .moduletable, #main-body .showcase-module2 .moduletable at line 114 of template_css.css and add text-align:center;.[*]You might need a way for visitors to subscribe to your RSS feed, if you plan on writing more articles. Either way, you should consider a search function. I'd put it at the top of your sidebar.[*]Your article links in the sidebar have weird URLs. I'm not sure what type of blogging software you're using, but you might want to look into that for SEO purposes. Google likes to visit the links on your page, and I"m not really sure how they'll react to those lengthy URLs with variables in them. For instance, the 4th link on your sidebar should be www dot internet security 101 dot com / spyware /[*]Any site that is selling something 'should' have a Privacy Policy and Terms of Use page. Do a search for those for the text. It is pretty generic. Just make sure to put your website name in the appropriate places. Those 2 pages should also cover usage of cookies, Google ads, and most anything else. When you deal with money, you have to have all that legal stuff.[LIST]

MesmerLab · #3 (**permalink**) 10-31-2009, 02:15 PM

Wow, that was ugly and I don't see where I can edit the post. So here goes my 2nd try to use the LIST function.

The header image needs work. The reflection thing isn't done quite right. I'd say to get rid of the reflection for now, don't skew the website title text, and make the title about half the current size. I like the laptop image.
I think the google ads under your menu might look better centered. Find #main-body .showcase-module .moduletable, #main-body .showcase-module2 .moduletable at line 114 of template_css.css and add text-align:center;.
You might need a way for visitors to subscribe to your RSS feed, if you plan on writing more articles. Either way, you should consider a search function. I'd put it at the top of your sidebar.
Your article links in the sidebar have weird URLs. I'm not sure what type of blogging software you're using, but you might want to look into that for SEO purposes. Google likes to visit the links on your page, and I"m not really sure how they'll react to those lengthy URLs with variables in them. For instance, the 4th link on your sidebar should be www dot internet security 101 dot com / spyware /
Any site that is selling something 'should' have a Privacy Policy and Terms of Use page. Do a search for those for the text. It is pretty generic. Just make sure to put your website name in the appropriate places. Those 2 pages should also cover usage of cookies, Google ads, and most anything else. When you deal with money, you have to have all that legal stuff.

chrisinbc · #4 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 12:08 AM

Thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions. I know what you mean about the long wierd links. I use the Joomla platform for my website and blog. When I create a page, it automatically creates one of those long links. I'll try to find out howto name the links myself. A Privacy policy is also a very good idea as well. I will look into getting a standard Privacy Policy and put it on my website ASAP. I see what you mean about the reflection not working quite right and the header being too large. I actually had someone create the header for me to be honest. I'll see if I can learn how to make the header smaller and get rid of the reflection. An RSS feed is a very good idea as well, as I plan on writing more articles. Just in the process now of editing some of my articles right now.

Thanks again for taking the time to leave such well thought out feedback. I really appreciaate it.

Chris H.

Ileane · #5 (**permalink**) 11-01-2009, 08:23 AM

I agree that Mesmerlab gave you a very thorough review and provided much more detail that I can. Here is my feedback:

I think the site has a nice clean look to it. I like the layout and the ad placement (except for the one at the top). If you are going to make any changes to the header, a more updated looking laptop would be nice. I do like the danger banners but I'm thinking yellow might be a better color (more like police crime tape).

Keep up the good work I think this looks like a good investment of your time.

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